Reshat Mati

Michael Nagle / For The Times

Reshat Mati delivers a blow to trainer Akmal Zakirov during a kickboxing session at Bars gym. Reshat's father, Adrian, grew up in Albania and introduced combat sports to his children after immigrating to the U.S. and starting a family with his wife, Ajshe. "There were no video games," Adrian says of life in Albania. "The only thing we had was wrestling and boxing."

Reshat Mati delivers a blow to trainer Akmal Zakirov during a kickboxing session at Bars gym. Reshat's father, Adrian, grew up in Albania and introduced combat sports to his children after immigrating to the U.S. and starting a family with his wife, Ajshe. "There were no video games," Adrian says of life in Albania. "The only thing we had was wrestling and boxing."